Invertebrate Studies Institute (ISI)

Biodome Vision & Strategic Fundraising Plan

🌍 Strategic Pitch: The Invertebrate Studies Institute (ISI)

The Invertebrate Studies Institute (ISI) is a bold nonprofit initiative dedicated to protecting and celebrating the unsung heroes of our planet: invertebrates. From genomics and biotechnology to immersive public education and conservation, ISI is on a mission to transform how the world sees—and saves—insects.

We are now seeking philanthropic and corporate sponsors to bring our visionary BIODOME to life: a world-class insect zoo, conservation hub, and biotech research facility.

📊 Why This Is Critical

🦋 Over 75% of flying insects have vanished in just the last 30 years — threatening ecosystems worldwide.

🌿 Insects pollinate over 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of global food crops.

🌍 Invertebrates are the foundation of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems — essential for nutrient cycling, soil health, and food chains.

🧪 Insects are an untapped resource for breakthrough discoveries in medicine, biomaterials, and sustainable technologies.

🔥 With global biodiversity plummeting and climate impacts accelerating, the time to act is NOW.

🏞️ People today are more disconnected from nature than at any time in history — and when we lose that connection, we lose the will to protect it.

🌱 First-hand experiences with science and nature in an immersive, intimate, invigorating environment spark curiosity, empathy, and action — when people see, touch, and engage, they begin to care, fund, and fight for biodiversity.

🔬 When people experience real science hands-on and in an EXCITING way, they understand its value — and that direct connection drives lasting support and funding for research and innovation.

🚀 Our Plan (2025–2028)

🪲 Mission: Inspire conservation and appreciation of nature through invertebrate research, outreach, and immersive education.

🧬 Vision: Build the world’s largest insect-focused biodome—an architectural and scientific landmark shaped like a beetle!

The ISI Biotech Biodome — a world-first research & education facility in the shape of a beetle, celebrating the largest group of animals on Earth. 🪲🌍 Inside: living insect zoo, biodiversity exhibits, and cutting-edge biotech labs driving discoveries for food, medicine, and sustainability.

📅 Phase I Fundraising Timeline

Q3 2025: Raise $50,000–$100,000 to:

• Hire a full-time nonprofit development professional
• Hire a part-time bookkeeper
• Hire a grant writer

Q4 2025: Raise $250,000 to:

• Retain an architecture firm to create:
– Schematic designs and blueprints
– Animations and visualizations
– Engineering and pre-construction estimates
– Finalize capital campaign launch in Q1 2026

🌱 25% of all funds raised before full build will go toward educational videos, outreach, and biodiversity research (genome sequencing).

🖥️Virtual Biodome Launch

We’re launching a fully interactive VIRTUAL BIODOME & INSECT ZOO — accessible via web and app — to provide global education, entertainment, and exposure to biodiversity and biotech well before the physical facility is built.

🏗️ Full Facility Plan: Opening Late 2028

We aim to raise $150 million to construct and launch the ISI Biodome — a climate-zoned, beetle-shaped architectural venue featuring immersive biomes, research labs, classrooms, public exhibits, biotech discovery labs, and conservation hubs.

🖥️ Virtual Gamified Biotech Biodome

We’re launching a fully interactive VIRTUAL BIODOME & INSECT ZOO — a gamified, immersive web and app-based experience mirroring our real-world Biotech Biodome. This platform will let people from around the world explore exotic insects, plants, fruits, and spices, while also engaging with simulated biotech equipment like genome sequencers, mass spectrometers, and PCR pipelines. 🌍🦋

Visitors will learn how science works — from biodiversity to biotech — in an interactive, educational, and entertaining way. With $150,000 in initial funding, this virtual biodome will provide both immediate revenue and a permanent platform for global science education.

🌍 ISI Global Biodiversity Ambassador Program

The ISI Global Ambassador Program is an eight-week international initiative designed to mobilize young changemakers (ages 18–30) from across the globe 🌎. Ambassadors will advocate for biodiversity, support invertebrate research, raise awareness and funds, and contribute to innovation projects that shape the future of ecosystems.

✅ Benefits include: digital badges, tiered certificates, Letters of Recommendation, research and publishing support, resume enhancement, and global visibility.
📅 Program Calendar covers Orientation, Awareness Campaigns, Fundraising, Conservation Spotlights, and an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge. Top-performing ambassadors will be recognized on ISI platforms, receive premium certificates, and may have their projects piloted under ISI mentorship.

💡 Mission: Invertebrates are disappearing at alarming rates (75% of flying insects gone in 30 years). Without them, ecosystems collapse. This program builds a global force of young leaders to reverse that trend.

📣 Call to Action

📦 Immediate Needs: Climate-stable storage for frozen insect biobank (-80°C), digital media expansion, board recruitment ($10,000 annual bill coming soon!)

🤝 Hire 2 staff members: 1) nonprofit development professional and 2) book keeper 💼 👔 📝 ($100,000 fundraise goal for this)

Please support and SHARE our GoFundMe for our early funding goals:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-invertebrate-studies-institutes-mission

🔬 Research Goals: Sequence the genomes of ALL insect species. Drive breakthroughs in synthetic biology, AI, and drug discovery.

🎓 Education & Outreach: Build programs for students and the public, including BugFest and science fellowships.

🤝 Board Member Commitment: $5K personal gift + $50K fundraising/year + strategic support.

💡 Join us to build the world’s most ambitious biodiversity + biotech destination.

Prepared by Dr. Aaron T. Dossey | www.isibugs.org | contact@isibugs.org